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Escaped king cobra owner charged, FWC says

The owner of a venomous king cobra has been cited for failing to immediately report the snake missing, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Michelle Meredith (@MichelleWESH) has the story.

The owner of a venomous king cobra has been cited for failing to immediately report the snake missing, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Michelle Meredith (@MichelleWESH) has the story.

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Updated: 7:08 PM EDT Sep 8, 2015

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WEBVTT WESH 2'S MICHELLE MEREDITH IS LIVE OUTSIDE HIS ORANGE COUNTY HOME WITH HIS NEIGHBOR'S REACTION. MICHELLE? Reporter: NEIGHBORS WE'VE TALKED TO ARE NOT SO THRILLED. THEY SAY KENNEDY HAS FACED CHARGES LIKE THIS BEFORE AND ALWAYS SEEMS TO COME OUT SMELLING LIKE A ROSE. YOU COULD ALMOST HEAR THE FRUSTRATION COMING FROM THE TRUCK THAT LEFT MIKE KENNEDY'S COMPOUND TODAY. THE FWC'S SEARCH FOR KENNEDY'S KING COBRA HAS INSPIRED A CHARGE AGAINST HIM. FAILURE TO IMMEDIATELY REPORT THE ESCAPE OF A NON-INDIGENOUS VENOMOUS REPTILE. THE CITATION IS SHORT ON DETAILS BUT SAYS ON SEPTEMBER 2ND THEY GOT A CALL FROM KENNEDY SAYING HE HAD RETURNED FROM A TWO-DAY TRIP ON SEPTEMBER 1ST AND DISCOVERED HE LOST HIS MALE KING COBRA. THE REPORT SAYS HE HAD BEEN SEARCHING FOR THE COBRA FOR THE PAST 24 HOURS. THE CITATION SAYS KENNEDY WILL BE FINED $366. BUT I WOULD LIKE THEM TO PENALIZE HIM FOR WHEN HE DOESN'T FOLLOW THE RULES. Reporter: WHICH BRINGS NO COMFORT TO SOME NEIGHBORS LIKE JUDY BROWN WHO NOW CARRIES A GUN WHEN SHE FEEDS HER HORSES. KENNEDY A REALITY TV STAR HAS BEEN CITED FOR MULTIPLE VIOLATIONS BEFORE. BUT I THOUGHT YOU WOULD BE HAPPY TODAY? OF COURSE NOT. HE STILL HAS MORE THINGS THAT CAN ESCAPE. Reporter: YOU SOUND LIKE YOU ARE FED UP. I AM GETTING, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GOT AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THAT CAN'T GO OUT AND PLAY. Reporter: HE IS TALKING ABOUT NEARBY CLARCONA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WHERE THE KIDS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GO OUT AND PLAY SINCE THE SNAKE'S ESCAPE. ALL CLASSES TAUGHT IN PORTABLES HAVE BEEN MOVED INTO THE MAIN BUILDING AFTER CREWS MOWED THE GRASS AND CLEARED THE SHRUBS THE PRINCIPAL WILL DECIDE WHAT'S NEXT. KELLY FITZGERALD HAS THREE CHILDREN THERE. JUST AS YOU CAN SEE IT COULD COME OUT FROM ANYWHERE. IT'S SCARY. JUST REALLY SCARY. Reporter: NOW KENNEDY'S COURT APPEARANCE IS SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 7TH.

Escaped king cobra owner charged, FWC says

The owner of a venomous king cobra has been cited for failing to immediately report the snake missing, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Michelle Meredith (@MichelleWESH) has the story.